Hose connector and threaded collar therefor

ABSTRACT

A connector is forming a connection between a pipe or other item having a threaded end and a length of hose. The connector comprises an elongate hose engaging element ( 5 ) and, located thereon, a collar ( 35 ) having a threaded portion ( 39 ) for engagement with a threaded pipe end. The connector is provided with sealing means ( 49 ) for sealing between the collar and the hose engaging element.

This invention relates to hose connectors and in particular connectorsfor forming a connection between an item having an internally orexternally threaded end and a length of flexible hose. The item may be,for instance, a pipe, a pipe fitting, a water tap, a valve, a tankoutlet or other device or apparatus to which it is desired to connect aflexible hose.

Reference will be made hereinafter to a pipe but it should be understoodthat the only requirement is that the member to which the hose is to beconnected should have a threaded end, whether male or female threaded.

Traditionally, a hosepipe connection to a pipe carrying, for instance, afemale threaded end consists of a bayonet-type hose engaging elementcarrying a captive nut for engagement with one threaded portion of anintermediate member or nipple. This intermediate member or nipplecarries a second threaded portion for engagement with the threaded pipeend. Between the two threaded portions there is located a region with ahexagonal section which may be engaged by hand or a suitable tool whilethe threaded connections are being made.

The above mentioned intermediate element or nipple is an expensive itemin a hose connector. Furthermore, in the case where the pipe end and thehose pipe are of different sizes then two separate connectors arerequired to achieve both connection and size conversion.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector forforming a connection between a pipe or other item having a threaded endand a length of hose, the connector comprising an elongate hose engagingelement and, located thereon, a collar having a threaded portion forengagement with the threaded pipe end, the connector being provided withsealing means for sealing between the collar and the hose engagingelement.

Preferably, the connector is provided with further sealing means forsealing between the collar and the pipe.

Preferably the hose engaging element has a first region adapted toengage the hose and a second region, longitudinally separate from thefirst region, for accommodating the collar. More preferably, the secondregion of the hose engaging element is provided with means forpreventing separation of the collar from that end of the hose engagingelement remote from the first region.

Preferably, the first and second sealing means are provided by O-rings.The collar is shaped to accommodate one O-ring in an internal recess sothat it bears upon the hose engaging element. The other O-ring islocated about the outer surface of the collar so that it bears againstthe pipe end.

Accordingly a connector in accordance with the present invention is asimple device and does not require the relatively expensive intermediateelement or nipple forming part of the known connectors of this type. Thecollar of the connector of the invention can be of different thicknessesso that pipe ends of different diameter can be accommodated. In this waythe connector can be a size converter as well as providing theconnection to the hose pipe.

The present invention also provides a collar for use with a connector ofthe present invention, the collar having a threaded portion forengagement with a threaded pipe end and being provided with firstsealing means for sealing means between the collar and the pipe end andsecond sealing means for sealing between the collar and a hose engagingelement about which it is adapted to locate.

The invention will now be further explained, by way of example only, andwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a known connector shown inengagement with a length of hose.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a first embodiment of aconnector of the invention in engagement with a length of hose;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a second embodiment of aconnector of the invention in engagement with a length of hose; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section showing a third embodiment of aconnector of the invention in engagement with a threaded pipe end.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a known connector 1 isshown in engagement with a length of hose 3. The connector 1 includes anelongate hose engaging element 5 which is in the form of a short tubehaving a plurality of serrations 7 adjacent one end which is the endinserted into the hose 3. When inserted into the hose a compressioncollar or jubilee clip 9 is tightened on the hose in the region of theserrations 7 so that the latter bite into the internal surface of thehose and prevent removal of element 5 from the hose.

At its other end, exterior to hose 3, element 5 is provided with acaptive nut 11 having an internally threaded portion 13. As seen in FIG.1, the end of a element 5, remote from hose 3, is enlarged, therebypreventing removal from that end of nut 11, and it is rounded to providea concave surface to match a corresponding convex surface on anintermediate element or nipple 15.

Nipple 15 is provided with a central longitudinal bore 17 and may beregarded as a short tubular element having convex ends, one of whichaccommodates the concave end of element 5, as indicated above.

Located centrally between the concave ends of element 15 is a grippingsection 19 having an external hexagonal profile enabling easy grippingby hand or by an appropriate tool. Between section 19 and each end ofelement 15 is a threaded section 21, 23 of which threaded section 21 is,as shown in FIG. 1 for engagement with the captive nut 11. The otherthreaded section 23 is for engagement with a female threaded sectionprovided on a water tap, pipe end or other fitting (not shown).

Nipple 15 is a relatively expensive item in the above describedconnector. Furthermore, a separate size converter is required where theconnection is between a pipe end and a hose of significantly differentdiameters.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, a connector inaccordance with the present invention has features in common with theknown connector as shown in FIG. 1. Such features are given the samereference numerals as the corresponding features of the FIG. 1 connectorand will not be further described.

The hose engaging element 5 has a flat end face 31 at the end remotefrom hose 3. Provided at this end is an integral outwardly extendingflange 33 which serves to prevent removal of a collar 35 from that endof the element 5.

Collar 35 surrounds a circular cylindrical section 37 of element 5 whichis located between flange 33 and the end of the hose 3.

Collar 35 includes an externally threaded section 39 extending from onelongitudinal end of collar 35 to a position about half-way along thecollar. Extending longitudinally from threaded section 39 is an O-ringaccommodating section 41. Section 41 includes two radially extendingportions 43 and 45 separated by a circular cylindrical portion 47 ofgreater diameter than threaded section 39. Thus, section 41 defines aninternal recess within which is located an O-ring 49 whose free surfacebears against the outer surface of section 37 of element 5.

Between O-ring accommodating section 41 and threaded section 39 there islocated a second O-ring 51 which provides a free surface for engagementagainst a pipe end (not shown) when the collar 35 is brought intothreaded engagement with this pipe end.

It will be seen that, in the connector shown in FIG. 2, a simple collarheld on the end of the hose engaging element 5 replaces the nipple andcaptive nut elements of the known connector shown in FIG. 1.Furthermore, by using a collar of the appropriate thickness, sizeconversion can be accommodated between a pipe connector of one size anda hose of a different size.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings, another embodiment ofa connector of the present invention has features in common with theconnectors of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Such features are given the samereference numerals as the corresponding features of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2connectors and will not be further described.

In this case the hose engaging element 5 is provided with a groove 61which is occupied by a split locking ring or circlip 63. Thisarrangement replaces the end flange 33 of the connector of FIG. 2. Whenthe connector is applied to, for instance, a pipe end, the wholeassembly will firmly lock together preventing any possibility of theconnector separating from the pipe end.

The O-ring 51 of the FIG. 2 embodiment is replaced, in this embodimentby a Dowty seal 65.

The connector is provided with two integral, annular flanges 67, 69located adjacent collar 35 and providing between them a recess intowhich the inturned end 71 of compression collar 73 fits. Thisarrangement prevents the compression collar being removed from theconnector.

It should be appreciated that, in this embodiment, the male threadedconnection part can be removed from the hose easily with a standardspanner. In existing hose connectors, such as that described withreference to FIG. 1, such a possibility can only be achieved byincorporating a “barrel nipple” or adapter such as the gripping section19 of the FIG. 1 arrangement. Accordingly, the present invention enablesan easily removable connector to be provided with a relatively simple,and cheap to manufacture, design.

The present invention enables all businesses in the supply chain toreduce their stocking requirements. The hose engaging element may be astandard size item. The male threaded connection collar can be stockedseparately to the hose engaging element in all the different male threadsizes that are required. These can be supplied with the circlip whichcan be fitted by the user. This compares with the current practice ofstocking the whole hose assembly appropriate for each male threadedversion.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, another embodiment ofa connector of the present invention differs from the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3embodiments in that it is for connection to a pipe end or other elementhaving an external or male thread. The connector 81 includes a hoseengaging element 83 which has a hollow bore 85 running therethrough andhas a serrated section 87 for engagement with the inner surface of ahose into which the hose engaging element is inserted.

Hose engaging element 83 has a flat end face 89 at that end remote fromserrated section 87. Provided adjacent this end is an annular recess 91which houses an O-ring 93. Axially spaced from recess 91, in thedirection towards serrated section 87 is an integral, outwardlyextending annular flange 95.

The connector 81 is provided with a collar 97 which is in the form of aring having a smooth outer surface 99 and flat ends 101 and 103.Internally collar 97 is provided with a threaded section which extendsfrom flat end 101 over about three quarters of the total length of thecollar. At that end of the threaded section which is closer to end face103, collar 99 is provided with a recessed portion 105 which is of ashape and size sufficient to accommodate the flange 95 of the hoseengaging element 83. Between recessed portion 105 and end face 103,collar 99 has an internal diameter just greater than that of the hoseengaging element 83. Accordingly, it will be seen that flange 95 of hoseengaging element 83 prevents movement of collar 97, relative to hoseengaging element 83 in a direction to the left of the position as shownin FIG. 4.

Also shown in FIG. 4 is the end 107 of a pipe having an externallythreaded section 109. FIG. 4 shows the connector 81 with its collar 97in threaded engagement with pipe end 107 and with O-ring 93 providingsealing between the hose engaging element 83 and the pipe end 107. Inpractice a washer, or other sealing element, may be provided withincollar 97 at position 111 to provide sealing engagement between thecollar and the pipe end.

The collar 97 is desirably in the form of a nut (for instance, ahexagonal nut) which may be screwed, by finger pressure or a spanner orother suitable tool, on to the pipe end. As illustrated in FIG. 4, thearrangement allows the hose engaging element to rotate relative to thepipe end, at least to a limited extent prior to tightening of the collaragainst the pipe end. In other words, the collar 97 is recessed allowingit to lock tightly on the screwed thread of the pipe, whilst allowingthe hose engaging element to rotate inside the pipe.

Once assembled, the hose connector is now free from any vibration,making it less likely to suffer from joint leakage, due to the collarpartially or totally becoming unscrewed.

With this FIG. 4 embodiment, the stocking requirements can again bereduced. The hose engaging element may be stocked independently of theexternal collar. As before it is only the collar which needs to bestocked in different sizes and not the remainder of the hose connector.This is of great advantage since the item which only requires to bestocked in one size is that which is the most costly and takes up mostspace.

It should be appreciated that, while the above described embodimentshave hose engaging elements with serrated hose-gripping elements, thissection of the connector can be any suitable hose engaging element. Forinstance, a simple straight or tapered end could be provided on theconnector together with a fastening element such as a jubilee clip tosecure the hose to the connector end.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for forming a connection between apipe or other item having a threaded pipe end and a length of hose, thethreaded pipe end having an axially directed end surface, the connectorcomprising an elongate hose engaging element and, located thereon, acollar having a threaded portion for direct engagement with the threadedpipe end, wherein the collar is provided with sealing means for sealingbetween the collar and the hose engaging element, the collar beingshaped to accommodate the sealing means in an internal recess such thata free surface of the sealing means bears against the hose engagingelement and permits rotation of the hose engaging element during fluidcarrying use and wherein the collar is further provided with furthersealing means for sealing between the collar and the pipe, the furthersealing means being located on the collar to the rear of the threadedportion of the collar and adjacent a radially extending portion on thecollar so that the further sealing means bears against the axiallydirected end surface of the threaded pipe end, wherein the recessincludes two radially extending portions separated by a cylindricalportion of greater diameter than the threaded portion of the collar. 2.A connector according to claim 1 wherein the hose engaging element has afirst region adapted to engage the hose and a second region,longitudinally spaced from the first region, for accommodating thecollar.
 3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein the second region ofthe hose engaging element is provided with means for preventingseparation of the collar from that end of the hose engaging elementremote from the first region.
 4. A connector according to claim 1wherein the further sealing means includes an O-ring. to the threadedpipe end by means of a spanner or other appropriate tool.
 5. A connectoraccording to claim 1 and wherein the threaded portion of the collar isan externally threaded portion.
 6. A connector according to claim 1wherein the threaded portion of the collar is an internally threadedportion.
 7. A connector according to claim 1 wherein the collar has atleast a section with a polygonal external surface enabling the collar tobe rotated relative to the threaded pipe end by means of a spanner orother appropriate tool.
 8. A collar for forming a connection between apipe or other item having a threaded pipe end and a length of hose, thecollar being adapted for use with an elongate hose engaging element, thethreaded pipe end having an axially directed end surface, the collarhaving a threaded portion for direct engagement with the threaded pipeend, wherein the collar is provided with first sealing means for sealingbetween the collar and the threaded pipe end, the first sealing meansbeing located on the collar to the rear of the threaded portion of thecollar and adjacent a radially extending portion on the collar so thatthe first sealing means bears against the axially directed end surfaceof the threaded pipe end, and second sealing means for sealing betweenthe collar and a hose engaging element about which the second sealingmeans is adapted to locate, the collar being shaped to accommodate thesecond sealing means in an internal recess such that a free surface ofthe second sealing means bears against the hose engaging element andpermits rotation of the hose engaging element during fluid carrying use,wherein the recess includes two radially extending portions separated bya cylindrical portion of greater diameter than the threaded portion ofthe collar.
 9. A connector according to claim 3 wherein the means forpreventing separation of the collar from that end of the hose engagingelement comprises an integral outwardly extending flange on the hoseengaging element such that, in assembly of the connector, the collar ispassed over the hose engaging element from the first region end of thehose engaging element.